Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 15

Annotated Gen.15.7-12 "Presence of his brethren" (1 of 2)

"His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."

God's promise to Abraham was in his Son of whose are we. So all the blessings He ever spoke to a man is His testimony in heaven and earth as well. The angel of the Lord tells Hagar, what shall be the name of her child. It was determined in heaven. Abraham validates the name because he is called in his Son and his faith entitles him all the blessings so the Son is the first begotten 'of every creation.'. In order to set the relationship of heaven and earth there is no better passage then the book with seven seals to begin with."And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals." (Rev.5.1) All events set in heaven and on earth are either written within or on the back side. So the quarrel among brethren has its parallel dichotomy in heaven. For instance there was was in heaven, " And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,/And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven."(Rev.12.7-9) So what stoked this quarrel among brethren? Satan or the devil with his angels were behind the war of the kings of nations into which hapless Lot was caught up. Here Sarai's indiscretion in procuring a seed by any means unleashes a war of attrition that persists even this day.

As a clue we have this verse, "And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram." (v.16) Without entering into te God's rest which is the day Seven in the Covenant what is the testimony of Jacob or of the wildness of Ishmael? They are the cat's paw for Satan.

We shall see both groups entering into the death of the patriarchs and of the death of the Son on the cross.

9 And the great dragon was cast out

Dear Laurie,

I will be lifting Sarah up the the Lord in prayer over the next week or so during her time of recovery. Please let me know when her infection is cleared up and she can breath more easily. This post-op complication is serious. May God mercifully bring her complete healing and recovery.

Hi Lbooth1955.

How is it going? Just checking on you brother.

GBU.

Hi Rainbird, Some thoughts and encouragement for you!

I hope this message finds you well.

I was thinking about how when we're in pain, our first instinct is often to reach for medication to get relief as quickly as possible. I know that's certainly true for me. It's really great, though, that in both your case and mine, we are able to find ways to manage and control our pain effectively.

I did a little bit of quick research out of curiosity regarding fibromyalgia, and from what I understand, chronic pain like yours can often be really helped by a consistent routine. I read that a combination of dedicated stretching, regular cardiovascular exercise, and therapeutic massages can make a real, significant difference over time.

Having the guidance of a physical therapist to create a tailored, personalized treatment plan is so, so important. And the great thing is, it's never too late to start. It's absolutely never too late to focus on improving your quality of life. By committing to a treatment plan and then sticking with a maintenance routine for muscle relaxation, you are actively preventing future discomfort. You are truly investing in a better, more comfortable lifestyle and a much-improved quality of life.

A good friend of mine is actually starting an exciting new chapter in her life. She's getting married and she and her fianc are planning to open a business together in a few months. She shared with me that having these personal goals gives her so much energy and purpose. It just really goes to show that having continuous goals and a proactive routine is the best way to stay positive and live well.

So, that's what I wanted to share. I really believe that a continuous care routine is truly the best way to prevent pain flare-ups and live well.

Wishing you a wonderful start to your week! Maybe you could also try some relaxing herbal teas in the evening - it's a small thing, but it can be a really nice, calming part of a self-care routine. All the best. God Bless u.

Hello David,

I don't believe this website has an archive containing older posts. At the bottom of the page, there used to be a way to see older posts, even posts going back several years.

If you do some exploring around this site, there is a link to where you can submit suggestions to those who run this site.

It would be nice if there was a way to type in a username and be able to view all their past posts. That would be something I would suggest.

Hopefully in the future, we might see some improvements such as an archive tab.

Blessings to you in Christ Jesus!

Annotated Gen.16.4-6 "Sarai and Hagar"

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes./ And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom." St Paul compares the two and says,"Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.". (Gal.4.30) The Spirit introduces a similar case to distinguish Eliezer of Damascus cannot be heir as the one born out of thine own loins." but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir." (15.4) Hagar is set in the household where the bondmaid is to look to the hand of her mistress and not lie on the bosom of her Lord."Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress;" (Ps.123.2). St Paul addresses onlyone aspect and significance goes beyond the free or bond but to the mercy of God. Bh of imposter churches harping on a talking point as the gospel truth has been in error all along.The point here is the mercy of God. " so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us." Here we have an error of judgment and Sarai was in error. The Spirit setting Abram as the double for the Son exhorts us to pay heed to mind of whose house we are. God blesses Ishmael so we have Abraham naming him. (Heb.3.6) Correct Bible hermeneutics compel us to fix the holiness of God and the role of his Son holding the heart, Let all angels worship him' is not be sidelined. It was how the devil tricked imposter churches.

Sarai moans," And when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee."

6 But Abram said unto Sarai, do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. In his household The face of Sarai is how Hagar could work with. One cannot upend the House rules and not suffer.

COGIC ADULTS MENS SUNDAY SCHOOL BOOK November 2, 2025 Acts 12:1-11 KJV

West Angeles Cogic Church Cathedral Los Angeles California

My COGIC WORSHIP: 1Corithians 15:3-4 KJV I Worship God that appears and does miracles through Jesus Christ Rising from the dead. I Worship God that hears prayers of his people delivers them out of their trials with victory. I Worship Jesus Christ being only God -To see GOD. I Worship God that's gives me hope-(not to give up) . I Worship God giving me what I want to believe in him and speaking faith. I Worship God that makes me atonement, distinct and with meaning.

Dear Joleenu,

It is so good to hear from you again.

I pray that your class today goes well and that the Lord guides you in future opportunities to teach Sunday School.

I do remember you in prayer. I will continue. I ask the Lord to bring together you and a man that is suitable for you and you him in marriage.

Hello Azzan

You are right. But there is a difference between one falling to a fault and somebody in the congregation who is living in sin.

In the first case we should be patient and pray to God to edify our brother. Is there really a Christian who never does something wrong or sins, even though they is saved? I think we all do something wrong from time to time (true Christians do not make serious mistakes). And we would not want our brothers to be strict with us. God is patient and waits for us to correct ourselves. And He is patient with us for a lifetime. Edification is not a momentary act. It is something that continues for a lifetime. We are perfected (or should be) gradually. Likewise, we should do the same. If every time we see someone doing wrong, we expel them from the church, then all the churches would be empty.

But in the second case, things are different. Now we are talking about brothers who have serious, permanent sins in their lives and who never seem to want to repent. If they have been given time to correct themselves and still don't seem to want to do so, then a different approach must be followed. Because there cannot be unrepentant sinners in the church. As in Corinth, if this person never repents, then the church must expel him from the church. He has no place in the church. But that is a job for the elders and the pastor of the church. It is not for everyone.

Also each case must be examined individually.

GBU

Annotated Gen.16. 1-3 "Law of sin and death"

And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife."

Ten is the Number of condemnation and the Spirit uses here to condemn the foolishness of the couple called to be blessed in the Son. Entering into the rest of God is according to the Law of the Spirit. Circumstances and responding to it as man does not let you go off the hook. An open door may tempt a saint and it does not mean those who are called to be saints take it and escape the consequences. As we shall see the present day hatred in the Middle East politics riven between the Jews and Islam is a terrible error of judgment. God does not see difference as coming out of the loins of the same patrirarch and both are blessed. 'Thy seed' in his Son of course is what God seeks for His special favour. "nd as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation./But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year."(18.20-21). The Compound number 12 is of same weight as 12 tribes of Israel. Without entering into the Covenant between God and Man and the Word which was with God, they are heathens. Imposter churches were beguiled by Satan to embark on the Crusades on the behest of Pope Urban II in 1095. Had he known the difference between holy Jerusalem in heavenly places and Jerusalem where our Lord was crucified, he would not have embarked on such a foolhardy move. To indicate the law of sin operating on his seed the Spirit set the caveat; for that matter circumcision was instituted when Abraham was short of one year. "when Abram was ninety years old and nine,"(17.1) 10x10=100 years.

" and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: Jews and Moslems alike.

Annotated Gen.chs.13-15 "Conclusion" (2 of 2)

Abram believed God and God's promise to hm was 'forever' " For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever."(13.15), How appropriate was this tag when God tells him of his mortality? "And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age." (15.15) The Spirit presents Abram and blesses him in his Son. Jesus Christ the same forever. (Heb.13.8). For instance Abram does not take even a shoe-latchet from the king of Sodom because Jesus testifies," for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."( Jn 14.30). This foreknowledge ought to warn every believer to walk before God perfect where His grace is there to fill in the shortfall. It is to which the Spirit prepares by this Covenant. Hagar episode is a study in the life of walking with God. God assures him not to fear of such a momentous step. " Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." He repeats even after his indiscretion "The Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."(17.1) Perfection is where God makes good of your lapses as a man, and it for his sake' so your faith touches the perfect sacrifice his Son shall make for him as well. In order to illustrate how man's best is woefull inadequate we have this verse,"and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." (15.12). His sacrifice just as demanded of him but the horror of darkness was in his own inadequateness.

This foreknowledge was in his Son so God sets directions "after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:{ and it touched the world of the Spirit.) The book of life in which we are co-heirs with the first begotten our faith sets the third space as 'forever' and it is the rest you enter abiding in Christ Jesus.

Annotated Gen.Chs.13-15 "Conclusion" (1 of 2)

13.12-13" Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom./ But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly" The Spirit is specific as to where he is taking us with the rise of nations begun in Ch.10. Instruction in righteousness set the lesson in the tower of Babel and in the separation of Lot and Abram the Holy Spirit is specific, either you gather with Christ or you scatter whatever you gather. Lot was blessed with material goods even as Abram so much so the land could not meet the demands in terms of fodder and grazing land rwuired for their flock. In our times the greed of nations is such that it requirs two and a half earth to sustain the insatiable demand of nation. Deep sea mining or deep space colonization shall not be enough. What does the Spirit exhort us? "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(Heb.13.5-6) Before Lots case is taken up the Spirit already sets signposts as the dangers ahead for Lot who is in eye of the storm sown by the devi. Abraham would not even take a thread from the enemy who as the prince of the power of the air is like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. Before God he presents himself and we know this short colloquy, "And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."( Job 1.7)

In this context we have God assuring Abram, "Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee./ Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord." (13.17-18) Abraham believed therefore it was counted to him for righteousness. In short he walked with God.

Jesus said " I came not tomdo my will but the will of Him that sent me"

And in another place The words that I speak are not my own words but the zFather who is in me ,he doeth the work ".

Jesus was put in the place of Judge yet he chose not to for now " it was the acceptable time" . The accusers wanted to be justified by the law and insisted upon it and so without accusing anyone answered them according to the law which we know from Romans is there to convict of sin .

The Lord had already judged the matter by " the finger of God" and found both guilty .

But gave them both TIME to consider their ways and repent .

In an English court of law a person found guilty is asked " Before I pass sentence have you anything to say ?" They are given a measure of time to say something to the judge which might mitigate the sentence if possible etc.

All men are guilty under the Law . But God has given all a measure of time be it long or short to say something to the judge .

The woman redeemed the time given her and repented the accusers did not .

It is not that she was innocent ,it was not that she was not condemned under the law . But " now was the acceptable time " and God received her repentance . There is upcoming a time when it will not be acceptable and it is very close at hand .

She was caught in the very act . I wonder how long it was already known ?

When I frequented pubs they used to do last orders when a bell would be wrung warning people of closing time shortly.

I observed three groups of people ( me among them) the first on hearing the bell looked at the time how late it was . Stopped drinking ad went home . The second thought to get just one more drink in . The last got as much drink as they could afford intent on getting blind drunk .

Calvary is the final call for all men to repent and believe God . The time of the gentiles is at hand and we don't really know it thinking we have plenty of time. " If I be lifted up,,I will draw all men unto Me" when Jesus said ALL ,none were excluded all are included . It is written "if we fall on the rock we shall receive mercy if the rock falls on us we shall be ground to powder."

God has not changed and when God said " let us make man in our image" there's wrapped up in that great truth another one . " Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God "

Are we not saved by The Word of God? Do we not now live because He lives?

In truth we are far better off in the last Adam than ever we were in the first .

The relationship with God is far closer .

And while the first Adam was given dominion over all creation . He lost it and gave the deeds as it were to Satan .

But in truth Satan was as short sighted as Adam was .

But what does Paul teach in Hebrews? " What is man ."

"But we see Jesus .."

It is written of God . " He upholds all things by the Word of His power "

If we are His are we not upheld by His Word?

God was and is faithful to His Word and ever since that beginning and despite the fall and rebellion of man God has upheld all things of creation and will do till there is a new heaven and a new earth and "God filleth all in all".

Angels are never sons of God nor can be for three are not born again for one thing.

But nowhere in the scriptures does God call the "sons" but rather ministering spirits ?

In Hebrews it also confirms it in the first couple of chapters .

Jesus is the on,y begotten Son .

We are begotten again in and through Jesus Christ .

No angel is " begotten" of God .

Adam was perfect inso far as God created him . For who can say God will create something imperfect?

But only God is incorruptible. Therefore His creation not being God was corruptible.

This included man . Not that God desired man to be corrupted nor willed it but rather made every provision to preserve him .

But in disobeying God, corrupted himself and all his seed with him ,he being the head or father .

"Thus by one mans disobedience all die".

Jesus while born of a woman in the likeness of sinful flesh nevertheless was born incorruted being not if Adams seed .

Even as the first Adam was not created corrupted ,Jesus was born incorruptible .

And by a sinless life proved to be incorriptable even unto death . And what does the scripture say? God will not let my soul see corruption " which occurs after three days in the grave .

Thus was raised from the dead never to die again .

And we who are His who have been "crucified with Christ " and buried with Christ " and raised together with Christ and made to sit with Him in heavenly places" Redeemed and clothed with His righteousness and will inherit an inheritance incorriotable, undefined and facets not away "

Angels do not have this privilege nor the same fellowship with the Father .indeed they must cover their faces with their wings but we behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ .

Just a warning . Be very careful when the phrase " original text" is used .

A text book of Hebrew and Greek is not the key to a right understanding of the scriptures . The key is the Holy Spirit for he "knoweth the things of God

1 Corinthians 5:11

"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."

1 Corinthians 5:12

"For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?"

1 Corinthians 5:13

"But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

Blessings

Man was CREATED in the image of God.. out of the dust of the earth . But he is BORN of a woman in the image of Adam . Genesis 9:6 simply states the fact of man's creation . We are Man kind on the foundation of Hods law that states " every seed brings forth fruit after its own kind" that will never change . We are not a fish kind a dog kind or done sort of ape kind but Man kind.

Man is not born in the image of God but was created in the image of God.

Jesus was not created for God was not created he was born of a woman thus fully man but not of Adams seed . His blood tyenas all men are is determined by the father not the mother. God being His Father his blood then was of Hod and seeing thst "the life is in the blood" it was eternal life .

If he had been born of Adams seed hecwouid not only be born in thevimagevif his father Adam but of a corruptable seed also rather than the " incorruptable seed which is the Wird of God"

My own son bore my image because he was of my seed and came from me I was his father .

If I had not been his father hecwouid not have had my image but the image of his true father because he was of another's seed .

I must conclude then that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God and the express image of the invisible God . If then I am born again not of the corruptable seed which is of Adam ,But born of the incorruptable seed which is the Word of God the imagevof God is as it were born in me because it is "now Christ in me .." and which is renewed daily the scriptures day .

I am already redeemed for it is the body that is redeemed but it is " yet to be revealed".

The spirit is quickened for they that are joined to the Lord are one spirit .

The soul is saved .

The mind has to be renewed by the Word of God so that our thinking is in line with His .

The old man " born in sin and shapen in iniquity" is only fit to be crucified .

We actually dont give the Lord our life but our death . It is He who gives us HIS life .

A very good, helpful and accurate word you have shared brother Giannis. This is something that affects all of us: self-righteousness, though carefully masked by us, is still something we must be alert to and expose, lest another do the job for us and we see our sin and feel the shame.

Your example of the 'righteous' Jews condemning that adulterous woman in the very act ( John 8:3-11) is very apt, concerning self-righteousness. As you understood the 'beam' in one's eye as the "lens of judgement", I've seen it in a similar way, as when one has a cataract in the eye. And this has become more clear to me (no pun intended) in recent days as my wife has just had her second cataract surgery done. Because of this event in our lives, I wondered if we could apply that 'mote and beam' spoken by the Lord to what a person experiences with the onset and progress of cataract growth in the eye. The slow growing cataract will eventually become like a beam in the eye where sight can be seriously compromised, even lost, if not attended to; and most of us will have to get that surgery done at some point in our lives.

My optometrist assures me that mine are still very small and insignificant, but we have to be watchful (!). But if allowed to grow without correct diagnosis and treatment (removal), sight will eventually be lost. Jesus gave these Jews an opportunity to be healed of their poor distorted vision. They thought their vision was absolutely clear under the 'lens' of the Law (and so it was), but as always, our Lord always takes us to the heart of the matter, in this case the 'eye of the matter'. Under OT Law, which they were still governed by, the punishment was clear. But Jesus was here now, the God-provided Transition between the Law and His immeasurable Grace. And this transition required the Jews, and all, to examine themselves first, and if we do, we find no authority to condemn another. Jesus began their healing process when they walked away convicted. Blessings.

Hi Gerald.

I understand your reasoning in what you say "that image has been so lost and marred by the fall of man and of sin it'

I held that view also but Genesis 9:6 bothered me.

I do believe we are born sons of Adam and have to be born again to become sons of God.

John 1:11-13 reads, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

I don't believe being made in the image and after likeness of God is the same as becoming the sons of God.

Did man have to be redeemed or restored back to the position Adam had before the fall, perhaps to the image and likeness or "perfection" he had before the fall?

Was Adam perfect in a way he couldn't fall? No.

Was Adam covered by the blood of the lamb at birth? No, when Adam sinned, he died!

As sons of God, we cannot fall! We have eternal life NOW!

Adam was given dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Adam lost that and ALL of creation has been cursed until this day.

We have been justified but have yet to be glorified.

We along with all creation awaits to be fully redeemed. "That's when our body's will be redeemed.

Romans 8:17-23.

Being made in the image and likeness of God was Adam's makeup, not his eternal state.

Christ was projected to come into the world as the Lamb to take away the sins of the whole world before Adam's transgression.

Blessings.

Betty,

I will keep you in prayer. Are you home or at the hospital?

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man in Hell asks Abraham to send him to the earth, to his brothers. He said that if they saw him risen from the dead then they would repent. Abraham answers saying something strange. "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." ( Luke 16:31)

If I was there I would ask Abraham, "Are you sure that they will not repent if they see their brother resurrected from the dead? Are you absolutely sure? Because it seems to me that they could not ignore such a thing"

Sometime Jesus resurrected another man called Lazarus, Martha's and Mary's brother. So did the Pharisees and Sadducees believe and repente?

"10But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus" ( John 12 10-11)

It seems Abraham was absolutely right.

GBU

"Judge not, that ye be not judged."

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

Is there always a beam in our eye? Is our own fault/sin always bigger than our brothers?

I was thinking one day, what is this beam? It can not be my sin which is always bigger than my brother's. This can not be so. It can not be that everything in me is worse than my brother's. And if I get rid of that beam in my eye, why still do I not have the right to judge him?

I thought that that beam might be the judgement itself. If we resemble judgement as a pair of glasses then when we see our brothers under the lenses of judgement then we condemn them. If we put them away then we can see our brothers with love and can help them. So in both cases we see our brother's fault but our intention is different. In the first case our intention is judgement, in the second case it is edification.

Once the Jews brought a woman who was cought doing adultery (where was the man?). Jesus told them "the one who is sinless let him be the first to throw the stone to her". The Jews left. Why? Were they all adulterers? No but they realized that since they were all doing sins (nomatter what those sins were) and so they were actually themselves under the death penalty of the Law, then condemning her was like condeming themselves.

So even if my brother sins or makes a fault in something that I do not do then still I have no right to judge Him. We must understand that we stand infront of our God only because of His infinite love and grace. And if God ever decided to take that grace away we would be like all other people of this world. We would had been condemned to eternal hell like them. It is only God's grace that takes us to Heaven. So it is for my brother, nomatter if he makes a fault in something I do not do. We come to the church to correct ourselves, not our brothers. God is responsible to correct others. This is His job, not ours.

GBU

Annotated Gen.15.16-21 "In the same day"

God renews the Covenant with Abram in the same day, which requires some explanation. Let us examine the context. It was evening, "when the sun went down, and it was dark," The Spirit is reprising the seven days to which the refrain, 'And the evening and the morning were...' serves up the Covenant same as was in the beginning. In token of the offering passing muster the Lord God is remembering the day decreed for his Son. Thus the same Covenant to which Abram and his seed in particular are blessed in his Son.

As a friend of God what shall occur to his seed is now confided in, "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;" is one part of the intelligence. Second aspect is what God means by the same day. Thereafter there shall be cataclysmic changes. The patriarch need have no concern. This from the same day till the day of the Lamb there must be a hedge about his seed. This lasts four generations. "But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." This is indicated by the seven angels with seven trumpets. On one end Abraham shall be sanctified by a new name, indicating him as the Father of many nations and his Son sending angels whose appearing shall be like lightening from east to west, (Mt.24.30) The Spirit refers to the period preceding it "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." (Rev.8.1)

The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ was Three and a half years while this ministry in heaven of half a hour rounds off the significance of Command number Four to perfection. "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."(Mt.24.30-31)

Annotated Gen.15.3-4 "Thine own bowels"

"And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir./And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir."

Significance of bread and wine established Abram as truly born in the will of God and not by the will of Terah. By the same token Eliezer belonged to Damascus while Abram's name was in the rolls of holy Jeerusalem. His eternal priesthood prompted him to refuse the advancement when the king of Sodom offered him. He understood that when Melchizedek king of Salem blessed him."Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."(14.18-19) Having partaken the bread and wine, he had entered into the will of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth. So he tells the king of Sodom,"I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,/That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich." The Spirit instructs with the solemn 'oaths',- we have two instances to compare here, Abram lifts up his hand unto the Lord, as the 'another' mighty angel does in the vision of St John. "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,/And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein"(Rev.10.5-6) The Spirit is comparing to Jesus Christ and the last Adam so he was called for "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,/ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven."(Heb.12.22-23)

He gave both the accusers and the accused time to" consider their ways" the woman redeemed the time given her and repented . The accused seeking to be justified by the law were answered according to the law and so were convicted by theur own consciences.

All parties were guilty under the law .

When the Lord wrote with His finger in the ground . There are only 5 occasions in the Bible where it mentions the finger of God that aI am aware of .

In Egypt "This is the finger of God we can't do this ,let them go"

" The finger of a man's hand "wrote in the plaster at Balthazar's feast .

The finger of God wrote the 10 commandments on the two tablets .

" If I by the finger of God do cast out devils No this that the kingdom of God has come nigh unto thee "

And here in this account in John 8.

All of them are in the context of the law and of judgement .

So it was here also .

God knows our frame it is but dust .

If God shouid mark iniquity who would stand?

No matter how ' deep' the dust it was still dust?

Much of what people call grace today is a disgrace . Men are not convicted of their sin first .

Some already are perhaps but there is in many No deep conviction of sin .

If you don't preach the law there is none for by the law there comes that conviction ( Romans)

The woman was given time . She already knew she was as good as dead . But in her case when the Lord had said nothing it gave a a ray of hope and she began to THINK!

The accusers were give; time also . But did not stop to consider

Jesus said nothing as if He had not heard .

We are not debtors to the flesh and are not obliged to answer the worlds insistent questions when they want it or even how they want it . We must always give ourselves time also.

Refreshing .

The fact that God loves people is indisputable and is not willing that any should perish but that all shouid come to a knowledge of the truth " Does not mean all will .

The fact that God loves His neighbour does not save them .

It is that love expressed in and through Jesus Christ can save them .( John 3;16)

The term " unconditional love' needs to be used with care .

For while all men are as it were reconciled to God by the Lords death . " For as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up and if I be lifted up ,I will draw all men unto me" In that He said ALL who then is left out?

No one . But are all saved? No .

"For if the rock falls on us we will be ground to powder ,but if we fall upon the rock we will find mercy "

The sin now is not all the infinite things men can do contrary to God . It is the rejection and not believing in zHim who God has sent "

Thus people are raised from the dead either unto life or unto death .

"The Holy Spirit convicting men of sin rejecting Christ .

Of righteousness because I go unto the zFather .

And of judgement "

Everybody enjoys the sun and indeed the rain when it's felt needed . But it is written " God sends the rain on the just and the unjust " do not even the tares rejoice when it rains?

Nebuchadnezzar dream of a statue .

This is Babylon one of the greatest if not greatest cities of the ancient world it's king. Nebuchadnezzar possibly it's greatest .

Who had a dream none couid either say wgat it was or what it meant . When everyone had given up and confessed that only thec" gods of heaven' couid do it , Daniel came to the fore.

It foretold the future . It told of a head of gold then of silver etc each replacing the other but more base than the one before. Finishing up with iron and it's two legs and then it's feet with 10; toes made up of iron and clay .

It is interesting that though it starts in the distant past with Babylon it finishes with Rome of iron. It does not start with the feet but with the head and finishes with the feet which are unable to mix being "iron and clay " making the whole ecificev unstable .

The Roman empure split into two . One based in Rome thevither Constantinople . When the political power came to an end it morphed into a religious power this too was split in two . With the western orthodoxy based in Rome and the Eastern in Constantinople primarily . But as the eastern did not acknowledge the supremacy of Rome there has been a ' war" ever since which is ehy the Balkans have always been unstable for it is there the borders between them both is found .

But the rock that was hewn out of the mountain without hands is Christ who brings the whole rotten edifice down and grinds it to powder which is then blown away like the wind .

That has already happened for Christ came during the Roman Empire .

All the others. Before it are they not principalities and powers? A unified kingdom but with feet of clay and iron?

The so called Eu is but the 10 toes part clay part iron that do not mix.

Who still wish to revive the unification of Europe under Romes. Not now by force of arms but by a deceitful peace and a corrupt idea of 'democracy'.

Now is the Prince if this world fallen said Jesus .

Every kingdom and empire has a foundation built on bloodshed ,treachery , murder and war .

The world is littered with the ruins and carcasses of who knows how many ' world orders' .

They have all fallen . I include Great Britain in this list but if this country turned out different it was only by the grace of God . But if it insists on raising its fist to God and saying " No God" it will go the way of all that has gone before it.

But I do not believe God has finished with us yet as a nation . Isiah 5 has it " if it had not been for a very small remnant we would be as Sodom":That would make these islands barren rock and London a wasteland .

I also believe the Word of God that states " When the enemy comes in like a flood the Lord will raise a standard against him"

That standard must be set up high on a hill and without the camp .

God always uses the few to bless the many and Thst body will be counted a little thing and of no account . Nothing .in theceyes of the world and in many a carnal mind .

But God brings to nought the things that are by the things that are not" and the perceived weak and foolish things to confound the strong and the mighty "

They will be as a light shining in the darkness not that they are that light but bare witness of the light. Even as the moon when it is still shining bares witness even in the darkest night that not only is the sun still shining ,but that there is coming a perfect day

Bad news for all who love darkness more than the light . Good news for any and all who want something radically different than what this world is offering them .